world famous in nu zild

I know lots of famous people, famous in New Zealand that is, I may even be one myself.

Last week it was Rozzy and Lucky on Road to the Young Farmer Final episode one East Coast Region - secret that should remain a secret... Angus the winner wears his kilt like a true Scot and Rozzy is scarred for life.

Tonight's episode is the Northern Region's turn and I make a small appearance or two as seen in photos taken by Thomas Te here

Also on the telly this evening is Ngaire on Hitched.
The lovely Ngaire is an excellent wedding photographer and appeared on Hitched. Ngaire is a brilliant wedding photographer and that she had not met the couple at all until the wedding day was no major problem for her and her fabo skills.

She and me went wandering to find them ideal photo backdrops (see this post) and Ni's key appearance can be heard as she exclaims "Awesome!" and pins the boutonniere to the bride's father. She's real famous is our Ngaire and her mean as wedding photographer catch phrase is Awesome! often accompanied with a quick thumbs up that I believe I emulate periodically myself.

On that TV oriented note I must say Little Grey does not suit blonde hair.

no-sun-day

I've just returned from the tropical North. Waking this morning to sunny, sunny Hamilton but feeling terrible.

Was infinitely cheered up by Memmy hopping into bed with me to discuss slavery in America. Which, of course is a perfectly normal Sunday morning.

Had a great four days - achieving my work desired outcomes (actually, fingers crossed I may have exceeded one) plus had a great time with Dae, Ngaire and the Paeas et al.

The Southern Alps looked amazing covered in a massive amount of fresh snow. Finally winter is here and I suspect I will be complaining about it shortly.

Will report with photos tomorrow.

Swimming like a dog

When I was a kid we would go swimming in the Waikato River

- not something you'd do now due bloomin' algae -

in the hot summer days which have returned this year swimming in the river was bliss

especially when you'd go with your family and heaps of other families and have a bbq dinner

Like these guys below, making the most of a hot, hot afternoon.

Ngaire and I wandered down to the river in search of perfect wedding photo places (Ngaire is a fantastic wedding photographer who puts in heaps of prep work and does the most amazing photos but most importantly makes the whole wedding photo experience really fun - you can contact her at nagirereedy at hotmail dot com if you are in need of a photographer - she travels)

But my post today turns sinister here....

This is the Narrows - I guess where the mighty Waikato River narrows - I was nine and at a family picnic thing. All us kids were in the river paddling and splashing around when I stepped of the sand bank only a metre or so from the rivers edge.

My dad was sitting under the trees (as you can see not far from the edge) and as I drowned, yes freaken' drowned he sat chatting.

Good thing Mags had her eagle eyes on that day. Good thing I have a complete inability to panic, because by the time Mags shouted to Greg (my dad) and he got of his big fat butt, I had swallowed a heap of water (probably got a good fill of algae) and dog paddled my way back to the sand bank.

I remember looking at him as I went under, thinking "WTF?" except that I was nine and thought that bugger was a swear word so I was probably thinking "WTB?" I remember my toes reaching the sand bank, trying to get a grip with my big toe only to feel it falling away under my feet. I remember trying to have enough breath to call out and not having any. I was drowning. I could feel the river pulling me out and north (yeah I find it strange the river flows north, I also find it strange to say going down to the mountains when you have to go up a mountain even though they are south of us) anyway, needless to say I saved myself - story of my life really - and Mags says that it totally wasn't like that but I think she only says that to abdicate any responsibility for this near tragic event in my, and her life.

Oh I forgot -BOTH my parents were LIFEGUARDS!!!!!! Geez louise (also a swear word when I was a kid) shows how much they valued their kids. I guess Mags could still have more kids, except that Greg had a vasectomy by then, you would too after having us kids.